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Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

I have pimples on my cheeks and the corners of my forehead for the last two years. I have an oily face. I was fair complexioned as a child, but sun exposure has changed it. My hair is curly, dull and brownish. What should I do to have silky hair? — Naren

If the skin is oily, it will be prone to pimples. Check if you have dandruff for, it can cause pimples. Sometimes, due to stress, the oiliness increases. Wash your face only twice a day with a medicated soap. Apply curd on the entire face once a day and wash it off after 20 minutes. This will help check your pimple problem, sun damage and also lighten skin colour over a period of time. For the hair, mix two teaspoons of pure coconut oil with one teaspoon of castor oil. Heat it and apply it on the hair at night. Leave it on overnight, or at least for two hours. Wash the hair with a mild herbal shampoo and rinse well with water.

I suffer from severe hair loss and also have dandruff. My complexion is becoming dark and my chin, pigmented. What shampoo, conditioner or skin cream should I use? — Dr. Salina

Dandruff can cause hair loss. Avoid creamy conditioners. Use a lemon hair rinse — add the juice of a lemon to half a mug of water and use it as a last rinse after shampooing. Massage one tablespoon of vinegar lightly into the scalp half an hour before shampooing. Use a mild herbal shampoo. Eat a small bowl of sprouts daily. They are rich in amino acids and beneficial to the hair. For the face, use a facial scrub twice a week, concentrating on the pigmented area. Mix honey and lemon juice in the ratio of 1:2 and apply it on the pigmented area daily, washing it off after 20 minutes. Apply a sunscreen before going out in the sun. At night, after cleansing, massage a nourishing cream on the skin and wipe it off with moist cotton wool.

My problem is pimples. I've tried a number of creams. I wash my face at regular intervals, but it does not seem to help. — Bharan

Do not wash your face more than twice or thrice a day. Washing the face too many times with soap makes the skin too alkaline and leads to pimples. Use a medicated soap and wash well with water. Take one cup of tulsi leaves and add it to a litre of water. Simmer it on a low fire till the water is reduced by half. Strain the water and use it to wash the face. Make a paste of the leaves and apply it on the face. It helps prevent pimples. Apply curd on the face daily and wash it off after 20 minutes. It helps check pimples. Apply sandalwood paste on the pimples and keep it on for at least an hour.

My inner thighs itch. I also have dandruff. Please suggest remedies. — Ravi

For the skin problem in the inner thighs, consult a dermatologist, because it could be eczema or psoriasis, which requires medical treatment. For dandruff, wash your hair daily using a mild herbal shampoo. Use very little shampoo and rinse well with water. Half an hour before shampooing, take one tablespoon of vinegar and massage it lightly into the scalp. Include fresh fruits, raw salads and sprouts in your daily diet and drink plenty of water.

I am 16 and have shoulder-length hair which has not been growing for the last two years. — Aishwarya

The rate of hair growth depends on hereditary factors. Your diet should contain adequate proteins, which are available in dals, beans, soyabean, nuts, milk and milk products, eggs, fish and chicken. Eat a small bowl of sprouts daily.

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